What happens when you combine perhaps the best offensive coaching job of the Snyder era with perhaps the worst defensive coaching job? Well, we got to find out this year. I knew the offense was good, but it wasn’t until I compiled the historical numbers that I saw how good. And I had already posted about the historically bad defense before, but I’ll finalize those numbers here as well.

Offense

While not as balanced as we would like, clearly Snyder milked the most that could possibly milked from an offense that had a QB that was lambasted weekly, a depleted WR corp, a solid offensive line, and one of the best RBs in K-State history.

Consider the following:

4.68 rushing yards per carry is the 5th best in the last 62 years. (recorded stats for offense only go back to 1949)

40 rushing TDs is the 5th best in the last 62 years.

64.5 completion %-age is the best in the last 62 years.

8.0 yards per attempt is the 9th best in the last 62 years.

16 passing TDs is the 9th best in the last 62 years.

5.82 yards per play is the 5th best in the last 62 years.

.52 points per play is the 6th best in the last 62 years.

33.6 points per game is the 10th best in the last 62 years.

Individually Coffman quietly put together one of the Top 5 QB ratings in K-State history with a mark of 143.07, good for #30 in the nation. Daniel Thomas ended up in the Top 10 nationally averaging 121.92 rushing yards per game, and his total of 1585 yards the 2nd best total for a season in K-State history. His 19 TDs for the season is tied for 5th nationally and also ranks 2nd in K-State history for a season.

Considering that 2 of the top WRs were lost during the season due to injury, plus the #2 RB andtop kickoff returner, this was maybe Snyder’s best offensive coaching job while at K-State. Plus, the defense was not often setting the offense up with favorable field position or consistently creating turnovers.

Chart: Top 25 offensive seasons, each section is sorted by yards/points per play. Grey highlights Top 10 for each section.

Defense

However, as has been stated, this was one of the worst defenses K-State has ever fielded. Some of the numbers given up are amazing, and only the stellar job on offense was enough to make this a bowl team, plus keep this team competitive even in most of the losses this season.

Consider the following:

5.93 yards per rush given up is the worst in the last 40 years. (Some defensive stats only go back to 1970)

6.39 yards per play given up is the 2nd worst in the last 40 years.

23 passing TDs given up was the 4th worst in the last 40 years.

31.5 points per game given up is the 6th worst in the last 40 years.

All of this lead to what you would expect, a mediocre .500 record with a lot of “what if” moments. A bowl game ending on a bad celebration penalty, when it likely should have never came down to that. And Wildcat fans left wanting more and unsure of what the next season brings.

Chart: Bottom 25 defensive seasons, each section is sorted by yards/points per play. Grey highlights Top 10 for each section.